Mindy Cook Dreams Big, On And Off The Goalball Court
Coming off a Paralympic silver, Cook and the U.S. women are eyeing another Paralympic berth at the Parapan Am Games.
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Athlete Bio
Getty Images
Height
5'4"
Hometown
Celina, OH
Education
Ohio State University
Personal
- Daughter of Bill and Jill Cook
Has two siblings, Lee and Kelsey
- Works full-time as a contracting officer for the federal government, buying equipment to fulfill the nation’s military missions.
- Diagnosed with aniridia, a rare genetic condition in which the iris does not develop in the eye
- Got involved in goalball in 2016 when a co-worker invited her to a goalball practice at the Ohio State School for the Blind
Attended her first goalball tournament in Michigan as a pool player in 2017, where she fell in love with the sport and the goalball community and has been playing ever since
Hobbies include goalball, running, adventuring new places in Columbus, traveling, cooking, and being with friends and family
Is left-handed and enjoys a good cup of coffee.
Paralympic Experience
- One-time Paralympian (2020); One-time Paralympic medalist (silver)
- Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, silver
World Championships Experience
- Most recent: 2022 – 6th
- Years of participation: 2022
More
"(Goalball) has been able to show me that having a disability is not inferior, it means that I am different and that is OK.
